!Nara, a photo from Hardap, South

Photographer's Note

A visitor to Namibia may look at the grand sweeping vistas and be captivated but the details seen as one walks through the landscape are equally impressive. In this shot one can see the wind ripples on a small mobile dune (the redder the dune the more iron oxide present. The green bushes are the interesting !Nara (in the Nama & Damara languages, the exclamation mark is pronounced as a click sound) plant, also known as butter-nut or botterpitte (Afrikaans), omungaraha (Herero) and !Nara melons. Found in and among the small dunes of Sossusvlei, these bright green, thorny plants, grow continuously as it keeps them above the blowing sand collecting up against them. As the dunes become higher and higher and the roots and the stem of the !Nara stabilize the sand. The !Nara is endemic to the desert along the west coast and is common in many of the rivers leading into the Atlantic Ocean in Namibia and southern Angola.

Once a year the !Nara produces a crop of round spiky fruits, the size of a large orange. These fruits are highly nutritious and quite remarkably have sustained indigenous people of the Namib for centuries. They are also eaten by gemsbok, jackals, hyenas, mice, porcupines and birds.

The small black 'dot' just in front of the closest plant is a beetle. Numerous varieties of beetle live in the desert, but that is another story!

Suppiluliuma, williewhistler, PecoBud, GREGG, ybx, ktanska, prasun984, Kofman, mmohan, bukitgolfb301, emilbo, sevy, tyro, timecapturer, bema, abmdsudi, AliMoein, ChrisJ, francio64, Nard, Cricri, bartekp, delpeoples, COSTANTINO has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

HimalAnda (5632) 2012-04-16 11:26

Hello Rosemary,

What beautiful colors! I also like the composition with the green grass contrasting with the golden sand. The sharpness is perfect, too.

Stéphane

ciakgiak (30331) 2012-04-16 11:45

Ciao Rosemary,
questi contrasti di colori sono eccezionali, il color terra col cielo blu e questi ciuffi d'erba, tutto molto bello ed efficace, complimenti per la grande qualità.
Un caro saluto
Giorgio

Suppiluliuma (3843) 2012-04-16 11:51

Magnificent colors, nice composition with 1/3 dedicated to the sky, beautiful desert texture details, informative note and finally a wonderful picture to savor for ourselves.

With friendship,

Erdem

williewhistler (7317) 2012-04-16 11:51

Hello Rosemary,
I like the way that the wispy bushes seem to be joined together by all those gorgeous patterns in the sand that disappear into the distance,so attractive.
The blue sky with the clouds pouring forth top off the image perfectly.
Love it!
Best regards Les.

Jeppo (17623) 2012-04-16 12:00

ciao rosemary,

Namibia could be one of the next destination of my worldwide wandering...
I love the sand texture and the vivid colours....
furthermore I like the will of life of the green grass that is growing anyhow on the dunes

ciao
jeppo

PecoBud (3778) 2012-04-16 12:02

WOW Rosemary, what a beautiful photo you've captured here. Excellent colors being mixed here, with golden sand, dots of green with that wonderful sky blue. Superb DOF, POV, and light management.............love it!!

TFS...............Buddy

corjan3 (1879) 2012-04-16 12:04

Hello Rosemary,
Beautiful ripple patterns in this fabulous image. Outstanding composition with everything, including the clouds, working towards the vanishing point. Fantastic quality and a very informative note. Does anyone know why the iron oxide pigmentation here and why the white Namib elsewhere? And why the dunes stop so abruptly on the southern margin of the river? The Namib has many mysteries amongst which is the reason for the stars being only a little more than an arm's length away at night. Thank you for sharing - what a pleasure to view. Best wishes.
Neels

ybx (251) 2012-04-16 12:19

Hello Rosemary,
beautiful scenery and wonderful colors!
I've never been to those places, but I'm sure that once you've been there, you remain in your heart forever.
I have no words to describe this picture, just perfect from the technical point of view, very lovely regarding the landscape, in particular the composition and colours. The iron oxide gives to sand a unique and inimitable tone and color contrast between the green plants !Nara is spectacular. Not to mention the sky and clouds!
I should be sorry walking on the sand and destroy those beautiful waves created by the wind! :)

Warm regards & ciao

Corrado

ktanska (21527) 2012-04-16 12:20

Hi Rosemary,
Reddish orange colour is really intense. Wave patterns in sand look good, especially on this one where shadows are getting longer. Strong sense of perspective.
And a note that shows knowledge that goes beyond tourists ever reach.

Vato_Law (12718) 2012-04-16 13:03

Hello Rosemary.

one of the most beuatiful and visited deserts of the planet still delivering beauty like you show us on tis photo.

The contrasts of colour are really amazing, as are those textures and this light hiting the ground.

Desert seems to be a word that doesn't make sense to classify this as it delivers so much beauty and so many things to watch, although I know that it's not classified as desert due to it...

Cheers.
Paulo

Ninello52 (7065) 2012-04-16 13:07

Hello Rosemary!
Image is very effective and efficient the charm of the landscape! Splendid the reddish color of sand, excellent contrast with the green and blue! Excellent definition! Congratulations!
Best regards, Nino.

prasun984 (5590) 2012-04-16 13:18

Hi Rosemary,
Wonderful comosition of this gorgeous view of nature. Fantastic POV and DOF as well with beautiful colors, sharpness, clarity. Lovely texture sky.
Perfectly well done.
All the best,

Prasun

bebbetto (12) 2012-04-16 13:58

hello Rosemary.
Super high quality picture ! DOF and sharpness are excellent. The photo is incredibly clean.
Fascinating colors.
Regards

fisher (1675) 2012-04-16 14:21

The contrasting colours and the weave of the sand make this shot so attractive.
Dessy

mmohan (738) 2012-04-16 14:28

Hi,
I like the balanced composition and the impressive colours
Manoj

bukitgolfb301 (30111) 2012-04-16 14:35

Hello my dear Rosemary

Yes, great shot! Reflecting with your high sense!
Nice macro appraoch via widefocus lens, perfect framework and composition.
Significant impresive tasteful "DEEP RED"color touch indeed. Wonderful color contarst!
So sharp and clear focisuing as usual as your trademark.
Thanks for your sharing with your best job and have a good day, best regards,

Takero from a little cold Tokyo

giorgimer (34512) 2012-04-16 14:37

Amazing view, I love the ground pattern and its color

Tfs

G

emilbo (20872) 2012-04-16 16:41

Allô Rosemary!
Vraiment jolie cette photo désertique. La disposition de la verdure est des plus intéressante. les stries dans le sable créent un bel effet et l'harmonie de couleurs est merveilleuse. Une photo de qualité que j'aime beaucoup.
Bravo!... et toutes mes amitiés,
Emilius

JFS (32189) 2012-04-16 22:25

Hi Rosemary,
Unique sceneries that you capture masterly. A nature shot that i'm sure delights everyone.

Cheers,
Juan

jjcordier (62394) 2012-04-16 22:55

Rosemary
Superbe photo de ce désert namibien. Les couleurs saturées conviennent parfaitement à l'image parfaitement composée.
Amicalement
JJ

sevy (13273) 2012-04-17 0:35

Hello Rosemary,

A nice landscape view with a good rendering of the colors, especially the green spots againts the orange sand.
The composition provides a good feeling of depth and you used well the total deep of field to put in evidence the sand stripes.

Yves.

LOOOK13 (19022) 2012-04-17 1:35

Salut Rosemary.

W O N D E R F U L .........

dta (51510) 2012-04-17 1:53

Hello Rosematy ,
The contrast between the red , the green grass sand and the blue sky is fantastic . Fine white clouds and little waves add to the beauty . The high quality of te picture (outstanding sharpness) makes that this is really a pleasure to look at .
Regards

Nicou (97811) 2012-04-17 2:10

Hello

Grandisoe compo et iamge quelle vaguelettes et traces sur le sable avec ce mouvement et ces herbes sèches, ce beua ciel une splendeur.

bravo et amitié

Nicou

timecapturer (30394) 2012-04-17 4:47

Hi Rosemary
glorious colours here in this exquisite composition. Love the ripples, they are so distinct and tantalising. A real gem of an image, captured so perfectly. Love it!

Regards - Brian.

bema (25936) 2012-04-17 4:49

Hi Rosemary,

every time i can look at such impressive captures like thiso one here, i get the wish to be there sometime in my former life.. great in colors, sharpness and composition!

have a nice week, see you soon, cheers Bernd

tyro (13149) 2012-04-17 5:02

Hello Rosemary,

An interesting note indeed. I presume that these "butter-nuts" which grow on the green bushes which you point out are not the same things as the "butternut squashes" which we all enjoy so much here in Europe?

Apart from the interspersion of the green vegetaion, this is a picture of two complementary colours - orange and blue and, as such, it has drama in the extreme. Wonderful patterns of the wind on the sand, perfect exposure, vibrancy and stunning sharpness as always.

Fantastic!

Kind Regards,

John.

cargus (6468) 2012-04-17 5:26

Spectaculaire composition, de belles couleurs, bien encadré et rendu, image bien fait.!!
Cordialement
Adrian

Sergiom (39336) 2012-04-17 5:44

Bonjour Rosemary,

J'aime beaucoup la construction de cette image.Les vagues dans le sable offre un joli mouvement et de la profondeur. Les couleurs sont bien saturées et le paysage magnifique.

Amicalement

Serge

abmdsudi (26311) 2012-04-17 6:42

Hi Rosemary
What a vibrant and beautiful golden desert landscape in lovely lines and curves gracefully against the wonderful blue skyscape and constrasting beautifully. This leaves viewers almost breathless and is truly a picture perfect moment. Beautiful tones with excellent touches of greenery on the vegetation and so crispy sharp throughout. The ripples created by the wind is real beauty, with excellent sense of vastness and tremendous depth. A wonderful piece of photo work masterfully taken. Fabulous image. Congrats
Best regards

AliMoein (780) 2012-04-17 9:59

Hi Rosemary
Very beautiful and interesting landscape view
It has an excellent composition,colors,light and DOF
Very good job
All the best
Ali

cornejo (18130) 2012-04-17 10:34

Hi Rosemary, very good photo of this interesting and charming desert with sparse vegetation and charming, technically very well done. Excellent and lovely work my friend, my congratulations. Good night and happy week. Tfs.

Best regards and best wishes.

Angel.

rychem (9264) 2012-04-17 11:16

Fantastic photo, I like the sand texture and color, nice clusters of grass with interesting shadows
regards
Ryszard

Afsanehbagheri (3206) 2012-04-17 12:01

سلام دوست من

نما نور و ترکیب عالی است با کنتراست بالا

تبریک

dkmurphys (36857) 2012-04-18 1:54

HI Rosemary,
Superb natural composition. I love the colors and the textures. Picturesque shot, well done!

Daniel

ChrisJ (86932) 2012-04-18 3:08

Hello Rosemary,

Incredible repetition of the rippled patterns in the red sand with good saturation & punchy light contrasts, & well composed using the rule of thirds. I like the warm vs cold color contrast between the red sand & blue sky. Tfs!

patdeph (35738) 2012-04-18 3:22

hello Rosemary
superb picture of the desert, where I love the colors and their strong contrast, and the excellent sensation of relief, due to an ideal light giving beautiful shadows.MAgnificent!
Regards
Pascale

francio64 (38188) 2012-04-18 5:32

Hi Rosemary,
davvero molto bello questo scatto.
Bellissimo il grafismo sulla sabbia ed eccellente il contrasto cromatico tra cielo e sabbia.
Ottima nitidezza e pulizia d'immagine.

TFS!
Francesco

Fis2 (73146) 2012-04-18 5:40

Witaj Rosemary!
Wonderful landscape.
Excellent POV and composition.
Superb colors.
Very well done.
Regards
Krzysztof

Robert1969 (6238) 2012-04-18 8:10

Hello Rosemary,

The great point of view and composition
creates a beautiful depth in this
picture (the picture has a beautiful
diagonal grass-line). The light
management is also great.

Friendly regards,
Robert

eldancer1 (17106) 2012-04-18 15:36

Wow! Love the colors of this sand dunes! I just got back from the Coral Pink Sand Dunes in Kanab, Utah. Great lighting and sharp details. Great saturation. Very well done, tfs.

Nard (6913) 2012-04-19 0:21

Hi Rosemary
The tittle could be "beauty, serenity and magicial picture". I like it. perfect framing, light management and sharpness. Incredible red colors with touch of green, beautiful sky. And the sand seems vibrate with the small waves. I would like to be there..
Regards
Bernard

danyy (0) 2012-04-19 6:46

Bonjour Rosemary,
il s'agit de la photo parfaite ici, quand on a les plus belles couleurs et les meilleures lumières, il faut en profiter.
Un ciel magnifique pour coiffer ces sables aux couleurs insolentes. Toujours ce joli graphisme des effets du vent sur le sable.
Regards.
Daniel.

Cricri (86535) 2012-04-19 10:35

Hi Rosemary
Oh que j'aime les paysages de votre pays!
Magnifiques contraste des couleurs, les lignées sur le sable avec les touffes herbes, une lumière et un ciel fantastique, sublime beauté
Belle soirée
cricri

bartekp (4200) 2012-04-19 10:39

HI Rosemary,

Photo with warm colors like always, I like it. Composition is verg good as well.

Have a nice evening

Bartek

delpeoples (45018) 2012-04-19 19:17

Hello dear Rosemary

Wow, I thought you'd snuck across to the Australian desert without telling me! The similarities are striking, just as your photo is. I love the simplicity, he wonderful textures and the low POV. The sparse bits of greenery anchor the shot well, exalting the depth of field superbly. Congratulations and I hope that if you ever ARE in the Aussie desert, we can meet up :)

Warm regards
Lisa

COSTANTINO (42746) 2012-04-20 22:59

Hello
thanks for sharing with us this fantastic
shot,great sharpness and lghtness
it looks like a scenery from another
planet from the space,may be Mars
magnificent colours,nice composition
I am feeling being into the frame
greetings and have a nice daregards
Costantino

i9l2y1m8a8t3 (4435) 2012-05-06 4:47

Oohlala! Wow, the colors makes me drool! Such delicious photo! Those ripples surely are very attractive especially pitted against such clear and vibrant skies with hints of greens. Lovely and super attractive! Oh boy, good thing I had the chance to stop by this site again. Thanks for sharing this one! Surely increases Namibia on my "top places to go" list! Wonderful!

warm regards, rosemary!
Matt